Energy Saving Tips When Installing a Swimming Pool
Are you getting ready for the summer? You need to install a swimming pool in your backyard to address the heat. Most homeowners would jump at the chance of a backyard oasis on their property. However, some homeowners are put off by the realisation that such an addition could increase their energy bills. While this might be true, proper power installation can help you to avoid an unprecedented increase in energy bills. This article highlights power installation tips to keep energy consumption manageable. Read on.
Install a Power Saver on the Swimming Pool Motor Panel — Most properties have multiple electrical panels depending on power needs. The panels help various pool devices to turn on and off during the day. The gadgets consume energy depending on their distance from the panel; therefore, the installation location of the power saver matters. Ideally, the best place to install a power saver is on the panel running the swimming pump motor. Notably, the motor consumes the most energy since it is always running as long as the pool is in use. Unfortunately, most electricians believe that installing a power saver on the main panel helps to keep energy consumption low even if the pool's pump is connected to the subpanel. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Therefore, installing the power saver on the right panel will keep your energy costs low.
Install a Power Saver Close to the Largest Motor — Although many homes have only one swimming pool, others have two. This is usually a matter of preference, but it means more work for electricians. Some electricians prefer to connect the pumps of both swimming pools to the main electrical panel and install a single power saver. However, doing this overwhelms the electrical panel and can lead to electrical faults. The best approach to avoid such failure is to connect the two pumps to separate panels. You can then install a power saver on the panel running the in-ground swimming pool pump since it is a larger motor.
Install a Variable-Speed Pump — As mentioned earlier, the swimming pool pump motor runs most of the day. Therefore, it is the first place technicians look at when energy bills start racking up. Installing a single- or double-speed pump is not enough to realise maximum energy savings. Variable-speed pumps, on the other hand, are excellent due to their ability to operate over a range of speeds. This means that you can install power-demanding functions such as heating and spa modes without running the risk of increasing swimming pool energy consumption.